Empty Space

[JMorris271]

Help guys please.
After reworking the rock work , I am thinking I may have too much open area in the front and could elevate some spots on the top. Won't corals be at a more natural state with more rock base to grow on?
Thanks ahead for your suggestions.

352690

[Reel North]

If it's a mixed tank get some plate corals to use some space. Less is more sometimes!

[Cliving1]

I do think going vertical would help the look of it. Overhangs and shelves are important too.

[Mr. Brooks]

I think it looks good as is. Remember, if you plan on growing SPS coral, they'll fill in empty space eventually. At some point you might wish you had more empty space for them to grow into.

[JMorris271]

I think it looks good as is. Remember, if you plan on growing SPS coral, they'll fill in empty space eventually. At some point you might wish you had more empty space for them to grow into.

What about the elevation aspect please.

[Mr. Brooks]

Corals grow vertically as well as horizontally. I prefer to have my highest rock no higher than half way up the tank. As long as your lighting is powerful enough to punch through, you'll be good to go.

[Mr. Brooks]

Here's mine (ignore the missing radion on the left):

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h39/thechad21_2006/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4hzi7ai2.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/thechad21_2006/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4hzi7ai2.jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h39/thechad21_2006/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsbhhype5y.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/thechad21_2006/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsbhhype5y.jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h39/thechad21_2006/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscrp1nbaz.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/thechad21_2006/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscrp1nbaz.jpg.html)

It may not look like it, due to the 36" dimension front to back, but there's actually a lot of space between the rocks. I have one tall rock in the center/left. I plan to glue corals to the face of this rock, not to the top. All corals need, is a solid square inch to hold on to. The rest is just filler. Too much rock can hinder water flow. Your rock is just the base, or the skeleton. Eventually your corals will become a living rock structure. I like to plan space for future coral growth. These pictures were taken a couple weeks ago, and I've tweaked the rocks a little here and there, but the basic structure is the same. Almost all of the rocks are free standing, so there's basically a canyon between each rock. I plan on glueing anywhere from 3 to 5 SPS corals to the top corners of each rock. As corals grow over the canyons, they'll form tunnels. Allowing for water flow to reach the underside of the coral. This is one of the most difficult aspects of a mature reef, getting flow to all the nooks and crannies.